Professional advice from:
Christian Gluntz of Schmid Kitchens
Hayley Zamur of CookersAndOvens
Conrad Hendrick of LWK Kitchens London
Steve Hanson of MyAppliances
LWK Kitchens London
Location, location, location
When deciding on the best location for your hob, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Firstly, how close your ideal spot is to the end of the unit run; secondly, how close it is to the sink.
‘Where possible, it’s best to keep the hob as far away as you can from the edge of the unit run or any tall units,’ says Conrad Hendrick of LWK Kitchens London – at least 60cm from the end of a unit run and 30cm from a tall unit. ‘These measurements allow sufficient space for pan handles to be turned inwards, preventing anyone from accidentally knocking them over,’ he explains.
When placing your hob in relation to your sink, Conrad suggests a minimum 60cm clearance for health and safety reasons.
When deciding on the best location for your hob, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Firstly, how close your ideal spot is to the end of the unit run; secondly, how close it is to the sink.
‘Where possible, it’s best to keep the hob as far away as you can from the edge of the unit run or any tall units,’ says Conrad Hendrick of LWK Kitchens London – at least 60cm from the end of a unit run and 30cm from a tall unit. ‘These measurements allow sufficient space for pan handles to be turned inwards, preventing anyone from accidentally knocking them over,’ he explains.
When placing your hob in relation to your sink, Conrad suggests a minimum 60cm clearance for health and safety reasons.
LWK Kitchens London
Hobs and islands
When installing a hob on an island, keep in mind that there should be sufficient worktop space on either side. You will also need to consider extraction. Options include a pendant or island hood that will hang down from the ceiling, or a downdraft extractor that’s installed to the side or behind the hob and rises up out of the worktop when in use, but sits flush with the surface when not.
‘You also need to think about whether you can get the proper fuel connection to the hob,’ says Hayley Zamur of CookersAndOvens. ‘I would advise you consult a Gas Safe-registered engineer or professional electrician.’
Check out 10 reasons to work an island into your scheme
When installing a hob on an island, keep in mind that there should be sufficient worktop space on either side. You will also need to consider extraction. Options include a pendant or island hood that will hang down from the ceiling, or a downdraft extractor that’s installed to the side or behind the hob and rises up out of the worktop when in use, but sits flush with the surface when not.
‘You also need to think about whether you can get the proper fuel connection to the hob,’ says Hayley Zamur of CookersAndOvens. ‘I would advise you consult a Gas Safe-registered engineer or professional electrician.’
Check out 10 reasons to work an island into your scheme
bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture
Factoring in extraction
When teaming your hob with an extractor, be aware that a minimum clearance is required between the two appliances. ‘A minimum distance of 75cm is needed between your cooker hood and a gas hob,’ explains Steve Hanson of MyAppliances, ‘while a clearance of 65cm is needed between your hood and an electric hob.’
When teaming your hob with an extractor, be aware that a minimum clearance is required between the two appliances. ‘A minimum distance of 75cm is needed between your cooker hood and a gas hob,’ explains Steve Hanson of MyAppliances, ‘while a clearance of 65cm is needed between your hood and an electric hob.’
Roundhouse
Safety first
It’s unsafe to install a hob over an unventilated gas oven where you have to keep the door open to grill. ‘It makes using the hob and oven at the same time very unsafe, as you are either at increased risk of burns by straining to reach the hob over the door, or the door to the oven will close during grilling, causing a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide,’ explains Hayley.
Fitting a hob over a washing machine, fridge or freezer is also inadvisable. Over time, heat produced from the hob can badly affect these appliances. ‘There are sometimes a few exceptions, though, so we always advise our customers to consult the manufacturer’s installation guide before fitting,’ adds Hayley.
It’s unsafe to install a hob over an unventilated gas oven where you have to keep the door open to grill. ‘It makes using the hob and oven at the same time very unsafe, as you are either at increased risk of burns by straining to reach the hob over the door, or the door to the oven will close during grilling, causing a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide,’ explains Hayley.
Fitting a hob over a washing machine, fridge or freezer is also inadvisable. Over time, heat produced from the hob can badly affect these appliances. ‘There are sometimes a few exceptions, though, so we always advise our customers to consult the manufacturer’s installation guide before fitting,’ adds Hayley.
Northpoint
Shapes and sizes
Hobs come in all kinds of dimensions, with widths ranging from 30cm to 110cm, so it’s worth taking the time to think about what you need. Standard hobs are generally 60cm wide and feature four cooking zones. Also available are 70cm models with five cooking zones that can fit into a 60cm gap, as they are designed to overlap your worktop.
‘If you have the space available, it’s better to go for an 80cm or 90cm hob with five burners, especially if you do lots of cooking,’ advises Christian Gluntz of Schmid Kitchens. Extra space for pots and pans means you will work more efficiently.
To help you determine the best size for your needs and space, Christian suggests you:
Hobs come in all kinds of dimensions, with widths ranging from 30cm to 110cm, so it’s worth taking the time to think about what you need. Standard hobs are generally 60cm wide and feature four cooking zones. Also available are 70cm models with five cooking zones that can fit into a 60cm gap, as they are designed to overlap your worktop.
‘If you have the space available, it’s better to go for an 80cm or 90cm hob with five burners, especially if you do lots of cooking,’ advises Christian Gluntz of Schmid Kitchens. Extra space for pots and pans means you will work more efficiently.
To help you determine the best size for your needs and space, Christian suggests you:
- Think about how you cook. For example, how many pots and pans do you typically use at any one time and what size are they?
- Consider the design of your kitchen and the size of the worktop: make sure you have enough workspace around the hob.
- Look at the depth of your worktop: if it’s less than 60cm deep, then consider a linear hob (see below).
Linear hobs
Linear hobs, where the burners are set in a line rather than in a square shape, have a number of benefits over the more traditional-shaped hobs. ‘If you have limited space on an island, a linear hob may be more beneficial, as it has a depth of approximately 33cm, compared with a standard hob’s depth of around 50cm,’ explains Conrad.
Pros The neat, horizontal arrangement of rings means pots and pans are not sitting in front and behind one another. ‘This eliminates the need to reach over hot pans to get to the furthest cooking zones, making burns less likely,’ explains Hayley. ‘It can also make controlling the hob a lot easier, as the knobs or buttons are usually directly beneath the corresponding cooking zones.’
Cons The disadvantage of linear hobs is that they are the same width as a hob with five cooking zones, around 91.2cm, but can only facilitate four cooking zones. Plus, a linear hob can be tricky to integrate into your kitchen design. If you have a standard built-under 60cm oven, for example, a corresponding 60cm hob will look neater than a longer hob. ‘You will need to check the space you have before buying,’ advises Steve, ‘as linear hobs require a customised cut-out space.’
Explore 10 ways to make the most of a small kitchen
Linear hobs, where the burners are set in a line rather than in a square shape, have a number of benefits over the more traditional-shaped hobs. ‘If you have limited space on an island, a linear hob may be more beneficial, as it has a depth of approximately 33cm, compared with a standard hob’s depth of around 50cm,’ explains Conrad.
Pros The neat, horizontal arrangement of rings means pots and pans are not sitting in front and behind one another. ‘This eliminates the need to reach over hot pans to get to the furthest cooking zones, making burns less likely,’ explains Hayley. ‘It can also make controlling the hob a lot easier, as the knobs or buttons are usually directly beneath the corresponding cooking zones.’
Cons The disadvantage of linear hobs is that they are the same width as a hob with five cooking zones, around 91.2cm, but can only facilitate four cooking zones. Plus, a linear hob can be tricky to integrate into your kitchen design. If you have a standard built-under 60cm oven, for example, a corresponding 60cm hob will look neater than a longer hob. ‘You will need to check the space you have before buying,’ advises Steve, ‘as linear hobs require a customised cut-out space.’
Explore 10 ways to make the most of a small kitchen
AR Design Studio Ltd
Domino hobs
A domino hob – as its name suggests – is oblong in shape and measures 30cm wide. Place two or three domino hobs together to create a bespoke cooking top, as seen here. Joining strips are available, so you can give the illusion of a single appliance. If you already have a standard 60cm hob, add to your cooking capabilities by placing a domino hob beside it.
‘Domino hobs are good for various situations,’ says Steve. ‘If you have an Aga, for instance, but only need to use the hob, a domino will save you warming up the whole oven. Domino hobs are also ideal for smaller families or people living on their own who don’t need four cooking zones.’
Pros ’Instead of relying on just one fuel type, you can use a combination of domino hobs to get the exact balance of gas and electric you require for your cooking style,’ explains Hayley. For example, you could mix and match a two-ring gas domino with an electric teppan-yaki hotplate and griddle station. What’s more, you can choose the exact layout to suit your preferred cooking style and the available space in your kitchen.
Cons A single domino hob may be too narrow for both gas burners to be used at the same time. ‘The hob area can also look a little disjointed, as the link between a raised gas hob and flat electric surface can make the cooking area appear a little clumsy, especially when moving pots between each cooking zone,’ says Conrad.
A domino hob – as its name suggests – is oblong in shape and measures 30cm wide. Place two or three domino hobs together to create a bespoke cooking top, as seen here. Joining strips are available, so you can give the illusion of a single appliance. If you already have a standard 60cm hob, add to your cooking capabilities by placing a domino hob beside it.
‘Domino hobs are good for various situations,’ says Steve. ‘If you have an Aga, for instance, but only need to use the hob, a domino will save you warming up the whole oven. Domino hobs are also ideal for smaller families or people living on their own who don’t need four cooking zones.’
Pros ’Instead of relying on just one fuel type, you can use a combination of domino hobs to get the exact balance of gas and electric you require for your cooking style,’ explains Hayley. For example, you could mix and match a two-ring gas domino with an electric teppan-yaki hotplate and griddle station. What’s more, you can choose the exact layout to suit your preferred cooking style and the available space in your kitchen.
Cons A single domino hob may be too narrow for both gas burners to be used at the same time. ‘The hob area can also look a little disjointed, as the link between a raised gas hob and flat electric surface can make the cooking area appear a little clumsy, especially when moving pots between each cooking zone,’ says Conrad.
Paul Wiggins Architects
Professional installation
A gas hob must only ever be installed by a Gas Safe-registered engineer, while electric and induction hobs often need to be hard-wired by a professional. ‘It’s important the electricity supply has been configured correctly to ensure safe use of the appliance,’ explains Hayley. ‘Plus, if the appliance is installed incorrectly, this can invalidate some manufacturers’ warranties.’
As a rule of thumb, get a qualified professional to install your hob, whether gas or electric.
A gas hob must only ever be installed by a Gas Safe-registered engineer, while electric and induction hobs often need to be hard-wired by a professional. ‘It’s important the electricity supply has been configured correctly to ensure safe use of the appliance,’ explains Hayley. ‘Plus, if the appliance is installed incorrectly, this can invalidate some manufacturers’ warranties.’
As a rule of thumb, get a qualified professional to install your hob, whether gas or electric.
Markus Schmid Kitchens
Keeping children safe
If you have young children, think carefully about how much space surrounds the hob, particularly if they are likely to sit at the island to eat or do homework. Keeping small fingers a safe distance from an open flame or hot ceramic hob will avoid accidents. In this case, an induction hob is often ideal because, as explained in part one of this guide to choosing a hob, only the pan is heated, rather than the surface of the hob.
TELL US…
What kind of hob do you have – or hanker after? Share your tips in the Comments below.
If you have young children, think carefully about how much space surrounds the hob, particularly if they are likely to sit at the island to eat or do homework. Keeping small fingers a safe distance from an open flame or hot ceramic hob will avoid accidents. In this case, an induction hob is often ideal because, as explained in part one of this guide to choosing a hob, only the pan is heated, rather than the surface of the hob.
TELL US…
What kind of hob do you have – or hanker after? Share your tips in the Comments below.
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